Dr. Rema Amawi completed her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry at Wichita State University in Kansas, and went on to earn her master's degree in Chemistry from Baylor University in Texas. She then pursued her PhD at the prestigious Munsell Color Science Laboratory (MCSL) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York.

Her research interests lie in the psychological and perceptual effects of color, particularly in the context of medicine. This includes investigating how pill colors, emotional responses to color, the meaning ascribed to different colors, and various color associations shape the perceived efficacy of medications. The above research resulted in the development of a tool to help identify the most suitable pill color for pharmaceutical companies and medical practitioners to better design and prescribe medications, with the hope of maximizing the drug's expected efficacy on patients and increasing compliance rates. The tool can be found on her website: http://www.colorinpharma.com.  

In addition to her work on color science, Dr. Rema is also focused on integrating technology-driven tools, such as machine learning, to evaluate the impact of natural oils on Alzheimer’s disease progression. By leveraging data-driven approaches, she aims to uncover potential therapeutic benefits of natural remedies in slowing or managing neurodegenerative diseases.

Building on this interdisciplinary approach, Dr. Rema has also developed a strong research portfolio in STEM education, with a particular emphasis on the use of educational models and hands-on teaching tools to enhance student learning. Her work explores how integrating physical models, interactive kits, and active learning strategies in the classroom can improve students’ conceptual understanding of complex scientific topics. Through evidence-based practices and assessment-driven studies, she evaluates the effectiveness of these pedagogical innovations in fostering deeper engagement, critical thinking, and long-term knowledge retention among students, particularly in undergraduate science education.

Furthermore, Dr. Rema’s sustainability research focuses on date seed valorization as part of advancing sustainable food systems. Her work investigates the development of a natural brown colorant derived from date seeds as a viable alternative to synthetic additives. This research not only promotes waste reduction and resource efficiency but also supports the shift toward cleaner-label food products by identifying functional, naturally sourced ingredients with potential applications in the food industry.